Several pro-government Egyptian newspapers and media outlets are attacking the United States following the Bush administration's decision not to increase financial aid to the North African nation.

The Egyptian press has attacked U.S. policy and policymakers in the past, usually at low points in the oft-rocky relationship between Washington and Cairo. But the new attacks are particularly vitriolic and have even gone so far as to compare some U.S. officials to Nazi Germany's Third Reich.

"[Defense Secretary Donald] Rumsfeld is a new Hitler in America," wrote columnist Kamal Abd Al-Raouf for the government weekly Akhbar Al-Yaum last week, predicting the hawkish Cabinet member would soon "meet his fate, like the other crazies relegated to the dustbin of history."

Several of the most prominent attacks were translated recently by the Middle East Media Research Institute following the Bush administration's decision Tuesday to freeze new aid to Cairo.

The administration made its decision based on Egypt's prosecution of Dr. Sa'ad Eddin Ibrahim, a noted human-rights campaigner, and related treatment of pro-democracy organizations.

Among the translated items included in MEMRI's press release Wednesday was a commentary written by Al-Akhbar editor Galal Duweidar, who criticized the U.S. decision as an affront to Egypt's judicial system.

Duweidar said he had "hoped that the bout of human-rights defense that afflicts the U.S.  to the point of undermining the rulings of the glorious Egyptian legal system  would be characterized by justice and balance, not based on double standards and a constant attempt to politicize the American positions in a way that suits the general interests of its agents. ?"

"Where is the rage at the human-rights violations of the innocent Palestinian, who is killed everyday, imprisoned, banished and besieged by the Israeli occupation forces on the occupied Palestinian land?" he continued.

The Al-Akhbar editor went on to cite a recent Human Rights Watch report that accused the U.S. of "many violations" of human rights and repetitive violations "of the law and legal proceedings. ?"

"If there was an intention to release Ibrahim because of his health and in response to the Egyptian intellectuals' [concerns] ? I think this would not happen, at least not now, so that the release would not be interpreted as surrender to American pressure and threats," he wrote.

"Egypt will not agree to any pressure on the part of the U.S., and the American authorities must realize this," Sunbul wrote.

In another Al-Akhbar editorial, the paper said Egypt's "role in the region cannot be marginalized and cannot be relinquished  but Egypt will not agree to pressure or intervention in its domestic affairs."

Other editorials accused Washington of attempting to turn Egypt and other nations into "agents," not allies.

"The American administration's statement was completely lacking in good manners and was uncivilized," said still another Al-Akhbar editorial last week. "America is proving it does not want friends but agents, which is unacceptable to [Egypt]."

"The great Egypt did not ask for this aid," the editorial continued. "It was America that declared ? [that it would] give economic aid ? to Egypt."

Cairo has been a benefactor of U.S. economic and military aid since it became the first Arab nation to formally make peace with Israel on March 26, 1979, during the administration of President Jimmy Carter.

Other papers also attacked the U.S.

"America is completely mistaken if it thinks it can protect its interests by applying pressure, arm-twisting, hinting at imposing sanctions, or implementing material and moral terrorism," said an editorial in the government daily Al-Gumhuriya. "Does Washington realize that international law states that a country has sovereignty over what takes place under its skies?"

The daily Al-Masaa adopted an even more threatening tone in one editorial.

"Play [your games] far away from Egypt," said the article, referring to Washington's Ibrahim decision. "Egypt is something else, something you do not know and [you] are incapable of withstanding the ramifications of this dangerous game with it."

But the government daily Al-Ahram was calmer: "Conducting relations between countries on a basis of mutual respect obligates the U.S. to forget about the idea of using economic pressure, because it creates an uncomfortable atmosphere and popular sentiment, which are not good for developing relations in favor of the interests of both peoples.

"If the U.S. gives Egypt economic aid, then Egypt gives the U.S. aid in other areas," continued the Al-Ahram editorial. "Even with regard to economic aid, the conditions of this aid opens horizons for American companies and American exports to Egypt. ?"

Still other papers were much more acerbic in their attacks. One  the opposition weekly Al-Usbu  said the U.S. was founded by European "criminals."

"The country [the U.S.] founded by the deported and criminals of Europe on the blood and flesh of an entire people [i.e. Native Americans] looks like someone who has adapted herself to her history [i.e. becoming criminal again]," said the op-ed. "Egypt is much too great to descend to the base and inferior American level  even at the price of the humiliating American aid. ? Let America go to hell together with its aid."

funny, but if you cut off their money they scream you are a terrorist... sounds like some of our tax and spend liberals, our federalist police state mongers and social program addicts.

I should have thought of that when mom and dad reduced my allowance long long ago... "mom, dad, you guys are terrorists... and the president is going to get you for this..." Yeah... that would have worked! NOT!

Where is the rage at the human-rights violations of the innocent Palestinian, who is killed everyday, imprisoned, banished and besieged by the Israeli occupation forces on the occupied Palestinian land?

Darn, ya sure gotta feel for that sumbich, he gets killed EVERY DAY, and THEN imprisoned and banished. Now, that's a bad deal. Ya might think he had enough sense ta get outta Dodge, in between getting killed every day and such. Maybe his Hashemite brothers in Jordan would take him in.

Problem is that Egypt gets another 2+ billion a year in aid already from the U.S. govt.
Why the heck do we give aid to countries that don't like us?
Simply to bribe the countries to not attack Israel?
If you poll the American people as to who to send aid to it surely wouldn't be egypt.

"[Defense Secretary Donald] Rumsfeld is a new Hitler in America," wrote columnist Kamal Abd Al-Raouf for the government weekly Akhbar Al-Yaum last week, predicting the hawkish Cabinet member would soon "meet his fate, like the other crazies relegated to the dustbin of history."

Such friends, they make a pretty good picture of their own faces by drawing others on paper.

To be sure, we have indeed been paying Egypt via aid money to keep them off Israel back and to further the influece of democracy in the country. The plan has been a dismal failure that nobody has admitted until now.

That my friend is a important move.

It puts all of them on notice that the world is fixin to change! The era of free diapers for these malcontent babies is comming to a close.

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